Response to total parenteral nutrition in the extremely malnourished patient

Changes in serum albumin levels and body weight are often used as indicators of the efficiency of a nutritional support regimen. Patients with moderate nutritional depletion demonstrate two distinct patterns of response during refeeding. The first is characterized by a decrease in the previously expanded extracellular fluid space with a rise in serum albumin and a loss of weight and the second by continued fluid retention with weight gain and no rise in serum albumin concentration. The second pattern has been observed in patients with ongoing stress such as infection. This study examines severely malnourished patients with no apparent inflammatory complications and demonstrates that this group responds to nutritional support in a pattern similar to that seen in the stressed patient. Eight patients with profound malnutrition were studied during the 1st week of nutritional support. Nitrogen balance was measured and the findings confirmed that all patients were anabolic. Sodium balances were used as an indicator of changes in the extracellular fluid compartment. Body weight and serum albumin were assessed daily. Body weight increased from 59 +/- 4 to 62 +/- 4% of normal (p less than 0.01) while serum albumin changed insignificantly (3.00 +/- 0.27 to 2.85 +/- 0.23 g/100 ml, NS) during the initial week of an adequate nutritional support regimen (nitrogen balance was +21.0 +/- 4.3 g, p less than 0.05). These changes were associated with a positive sodium balance (+215 +/- 20 mEq, p less than 0.05). These data confirm that some extremely malnourished patients do not experience a diuresis during the initial phase of nutritional support but rather may retain water and increase body weight.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Improving nutritional screening of hospitalized patients: the role of prealbumin

BACKGROUND: Limited resources prevent hospitals from having all patients formally evaluated by a nutrition expert. Thus, hospitals rely on nutrition-screening tools to identify malnourished patients. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a nutrition-screening protocol, prealbumin (PAB), retinol binding protein (RBP), and albumin (ALB) in identifying malnourished hospitalized patients. METHODS: A nutrition screening protocol was prospectively used in medical and surgical patients and consisted of a nurse administering a questionnaire to patients and requesting formal evaluation by a registered dietitian (RD) only if nutritional issues were identified. Patients also had ALB, PAB, and RBP drawn, which were used to both screen and identify the malnourished. PAB, RBP, and ALB were compared as predictors of RD classification of patient nutritional status. RESULTS: The nutrition-screening protocol classified 104 of 320 patients (33%) as malnourished. However, 43% of the patients were not deemed at nutritional risk according to this protocol and therefore did not receive RD assessment. PAB was a significant predictor of RD-determined nutritional status (p < .05), whereas RBP and ALB were not. PAB screening/assessment identified 50% (162/320) of the patients as being malnourished. Notably, 50% of the patients (71 of 142) who were not evaluated by an RD were identified as malnourished using PAB criteria. The nutrition-screening protocol took 1.2 days longer to determine malnourishment compared with PAB (p = .0021). CONCLUSIONS: Use of screening questionnaires may miss or delay identification of malnourished patients. PAB screening/assessment may improve identification of those patients requiring nutrition intervention and thus enhance the care of hospitalized individuals.     

肠内营养在危重病人中的应用效果及护理

目的探讨肠内营养(EN)在危重病人中的应用效果。方法对41例危重病人在肠内营养支持治疗前和支持7d后测定血清前白蛋白(PA)、白蛋白(ALB)、视黄醇结合蛋白(RBP)和转铁蛋白(TRF)水平。结果血清前白蛋白和视黄醇结合蛋白水平在肠内营养支持治疗7d后明显升高,差异有统计学意义(P<0.001),而白蛋白和转铁蛋白水平没有改变,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论危重病人实施肠内营养能改善机体蛋白质合成和免疫功能,减少并发症的发生,缩短住院时间,降低病死率,对提高危重病人的预后有着重要的意义。     

肠内营养在危重病人中的应用效果及护理

目的探讨肠内营养(EN)在危重病人中的应用效果。方法对41例危重病人在肠内营养支持治疗前和支持7d后测定血清前白蛋白(PA)、白蛋白(ALB)、视黄醇结合蛋白(RBP)和转铁蛋白(TRF)水平。结果血清前白蛋白和视黄醇结合蛋白水平在肠内营养支持治疗7d后明显升高,差异有统计学意义(P<0.001),而白蛋白和转铁蛋白水平没有改变,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论危重病人实施肠内营养能改善机体蛋白质合成和免疫功能,减少并发症的发生,缩短住院时间,降低病死率,对提高危重病人的预后有着重要的意义。     

视黄醇结合蛋白、前白蛋白对胎儿宫内营养状况评估价值研究

目的 探讨视黄醇结合蛋白(RBP)、前白蛋白(PA)评价胎儿宫内营养状况的临床价值.方法 选择2015年在淮北市妇幼保健院分娩的338例新生儿作为研究对象,按胎龄分为早产儿组137例和足月儿组201例,生后12h内取静脉血检测RBP、PA水平,比较不同分组新生儿RBP、PA水平并分析RBP、PA水平对胎儿宫内营养状况的评价效果.结果 足月儿组血清RBP和PA水平均显著高于早产儿组(t值分别为5.548、4.337,均P<0.05),35~36周早产儿组血清RBP、PA水平均显著高于28~34周早产儿组(t值分别为5.097、9.007,均P<0.05),低体重儿组新生儿血清RBP、PA水平均显著低于其他两组RBP:t值分别为5.379、5.882,均P<0.05;PA:t值分别为6.498、7.267,均P<0.05),而巨大儿组新生儿血清RBP、PA水平均显著高于其他两组(t值分别为4.276、5.034,均P<0.05).结论 血清RBP、PA综合评价能够准确快速判断胎儿宫内营养状况,在临床上具有重要应用价值.     

CT引导下经皮胃造口术肠内营养支持对食管癌伴吞咽困难病人放疗期间营养状况的影响

目的:探讨CT引导下经皮胃造口术肠内营养支持对食管癌伴吞咽困难病人放疗期间营养状况的影响。方法:将放疗前行CT引导下经皮胃造口术肠内营养支持的46例食管癌伴吞咽困难病人作为观察组。同期在我院放疗中心住院经口进食的43例食管癌伴吞咽困难病人作为对照组。观察组病人每日通过胃造口管摄取所需营养,对照组的营养摄入包括经口进食和静脉输注。两组病人分别于放疗前一天、放疗结束后,由责任护士测量病人身高、体重(BW),计算体质指数(BMI);遵医嘱抽取病人清晨空腹血,测定血清白蛋白(ALB)、前白蛋白(PA)、血红蛋白(HB);并观察两组病人放疗期间急性放射性食管炎的发生率和治疗计划完成情况。结果:两组病人放疗前BW、BMI、ALB、PA、HB比较,差异无统计学意义(t分别为0.84、0.63、-1.07、-0.81、1.48,P0.05)。放疗结束后观察组病人的BW、BMI、ALB、PA、HB明显高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(t分别为3.30、4.65、6.82、43.56、31.91,P0.01)。而在放疗期间,观察组病人急性放射性食管炎的总发生率明显低于对照组,差异有统计学意义χ~2=3.971,P0.05)。此外,观察组病人治疗计划完成率显著高于对照组(χ~2=6.811,P0.01)。结论:对食管癌伴吞咽困难病人放疗期间行CT引导下经皮胃造口术,进行肠内营养支持,有利于改善病人的营养不良状况,提高病人的机体免疫功能,减少放疗期间急性放射性食管炎的发生率,保证治疗计划的顺利完成。     

生长激素在儿童心脏术后的应用

目的 :探讨儿童心脏术后有效的营养支持方法。　方法 :6 0例病儿分两组 ,试验组 4 0例 ,对照组 2 0例 ,全部病例均于术后常规补液、进食 ,试验组术后 4 8h皮下开始注射金磊生长激素 0 .2u/ (kg·d) ,连用 7天。膳食由营养科管理 ,术后的前 3天给予含高蛋白、高维生素的半流质饮食 ,3天后逐渐过渡到软食。监测指标为体重、上臂肌围、肱三头肌皮皱厚度、尿肌酐浓度、血清转铁蛋白、前白蛋白、免疫球蛋白、血清总蛋白、白蛋白、血红蛋白及红细胞计数。　结果 :试验组术后体重增加或保持术前水平的占 5 2 .5 % ,对照组占 2 0 .0 % ,两组比较有显著差异 (P <0 .0 5 ) ;试验组术后 6天 2 4h肌酐排出量、血清前白蛋白、转铁蛋白、免疫球蛋白与对照组比较 ,均有显著差异 (P <0 .0 1)。　结论 :心脏术后在常规使用营养支持的情况下 ,加用生长激素 ,可以促进机体有效利用营养物质 ,增加蛋白质的合成 ,有利于提高机体免疫功能。     

Albumin and labile-protein serum concentrations during very-low-calorie diets with different compositions

Circulating concentrations of albumin and the labile proteins prealbumin (PA) and retinol-binding protein (RBP) were evaluated over 20 d in five groups of obese patients. The patients were given four types of very-low-calorie diets (VLCDs) (less than 500 kcal/d) that provided different amounts of protein or carbohydrate (CHO) plus protein and a conventional 1200-kcal/d hypocaloric diet. Serum albumin concentrations did not vary significantly during any of the diets whereas PA and RBP remained unchanged only during the conventional 1200-kcal/d diet. Similar and significant decreases of serum PA and RBP were observed during the VLCDs studied. The molar ratio of RBP to PA did not vary during dieting. Thus, when less than 500 kcal/d are given, changes of serum short-half-life visceral proteins are not affected by either the addition of CHO to protein or the changes in protein intake. Moreover, serum albumin concentration and RBP/PA do not vary during VLCDs.     

Nutritional status and performance capacity in internal medical patients

The nutritional status (3 anthropometric records, serum albumin and delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity (DCH)), recent weight loss, dynamometric capacity and mood were assessed in 205 recently admitted non-cancer internal medical patients. 20% of the subjects were classified as malnourished (3 of the 5 nutritional variables below the reference range). The occurrence of malnutrition was higher (1 3 ) in multiple organ dysfunction or chronic respiratory disease. In order to reduce the risk of overestimating malnutrition, the data for serum albumin and DCH were omitted when they appeared to be influenced by non-nutritional factors. Disease duration >2 years, old age and multiple organ dysfunction were independently related to malnutrition. Serum albumin correlated more strongly with the acute phase reactant, serum acid glycoprotein (r = 0.33, P < 0.001) than with the anthropometric variables (r < 0.24). Recalled recent weight loss >5% was found in 34% of the malnourished subjects. Malnourished, in comparison to wellnourished patients, exhibited reduced (p < 0.05) recordings for hand grip strength, peak expiratory flow and time of ambulation. Depressive tendencies were seen in malnourished women (p < 0.05).     

肠内免疫营养对胃癌手术病人免疫功能和急性炎性反应的调理作用

目的 :观察胃癌病人围手术期使用肿瘤特异性肠内免疫营养物 Supportan对病人的营养、免疫和急性炎性反应的调理作用。　方法 :本研究是一个前瞻、随机、单盲、对照的临床研究。30例营养不良择期手术的胃癌病人 ,随机分为两组 :1、免疫营养组 (Supportan,n=15 ) ,2、标准营养组 (能全素 Nutrison,n=15 )。两组使用等热量肠内营养 ,12 5 k J(30 kcal) / (kg· d)。术前置鼻胃管 ,使用 7天。术中均行空肠造口 ,术后 12小时开始空肠输注肠内营养 ,连续 7天。术前第 8、1天 ;术后第 1、8天抽取静脉血 ,检测血清白蛋白、前白蛋白、转铁蛋白、T淋巴细胞亚群、血清免疫球蛋白、血清 IL - 6、CRP、PGE2 浓度。　结果 :两组病人术后均有急性炎性反应的发生和免疫功能的降低。但免疫营养组比标准营养组的术后第 1、8天的 CD4/ CD8比值、血清 Ig G水平有显著增加 ;血清 IL- 6、CRP、PGE2 有显著下降 ;术后第 8天血清前白蛋白浓度有显著增加。　结论 :胃癌合并营养不良的病人围手术期使用肠内免疫营养物 Supportan可以改善手术后免疫功能的低下 ,缓解急性相炎性反应和增加内脏蛋白的合成。     

Standardized thigh muscle area measured by computed axial tomography as an alternate muscle mass index for nutritional assessment of hemodialysis patients

BACKGROUND: Quantification of muscle mass, which represents the largest protein pool in the body, is important for nutritional assessment but is difficult to achieve with conventional methods in hemodialysis patients. OBJECTIVE: We measured the cross-sectional area of the thigh occupied by muscle by using computed tomography and compared this with other muscle mass indicators. DESIGN: Thigh muscle area (TMA) was examined and correlated with creatinine production and various nutritional indexes in 163 patients undergoing hemodialysis. Where appropriate, TMA was expressed relative to bone area in the thigh (TBA) to avoid the influence of body size. RESULTS: TMA was highly correlated with creatinine production as measured in the spent dialysate (r = 0.85, P < 0.001), indicating that TMA substantially reflects total-body muscle mass. TMA standardized for TBA was negatively correlated with age and positively correlated with other nutritional indicators including body weight, body mass index, serum albumin, serum transthyretin, and protein catabolic rate. Multiple regression analysis revealed that of these variables, age, serum albumin, and protein catabolic rate independently predicted TMA standardized for TBA. By using correlations with various nutritional indicators, we concluded that patients with a value <10.0 for TMA standardized for TBA were likely to be malnourished whereas those with a value >13.0 were likely to be well nourished. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that TMA standardized for TBA, measured by computed tomography, is a reliable indicator of muscle mass that could be used for nutritional assessment of hemodialysis patients.     

食管癌术后病人两种营养支持治疗的比较

目的:观察食管癌术后病人两种营养支持疗法的效果。方法:将80例食管癌术后病人随机分为肠外营养(PN)组和肠内营养(EN)组,所有病人在手术前1 d和术后第8天检测血红蛋白(Hb)、血清清蛋白(ALB)、前清蛋白(PA)、转铁蛋白(TF)、体质指数(BMI)以及肛门排气时间、住院时间和营养费用等指标。结果:两组病人术后血清ALB,住院时间、BMI、Hb比较无显著性差异(P>0.05)。EN组病人血清PA,TF明显高于PN组(P<0.05),术后肛门排气时间明显早于PN组(P<0.05),所用营养费用低于PN组。结论:两种营养支持治疗均可改善食管癌病人的营养状况,但EN与PN比,更具有符合生理、安全、价廉的优点。     

Body composition, treatment time, and outcome in hemodialysis patients.

OBJECTIVE: To review the nutritional status, hemodialysis (HD) treatment times, and outcome in stable HD patients. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study with follow-up 12 months later. SETTING: Five HD units in the Southwest of England, United Kingdom. PATIENTS: A random selection of 180 stable HD patients who had been receiving dialysis treatment for at least 6 months. MEASURES: Anthropometric measurements of triceps and biceps skinfold thickness, and mid arm circumference, to calculate indices of nutritional status and body composition. RESULTS: (1) Male HD patients had severe reductions in muscle mass compared with the normal population (P < 0.01), with 50% below the 10th percentile of normal; (2) nondiabetic female patients had significant reductions in body fat stores compared with the normal (P < 0.001); (3) reduced HD treatment times (less than 12 hours per week) were associated with significantly reduced values of muscle mass (P < 0.02) in males and significantly reduced body fat stores (P < 0.001) and muscle mass (P < 0.05) in females; (4) reduced treatment times were also associated with the lowest serum albumin (P < 0.001) and creatinine (P < 0.001) levels; and (5) a serum albumin level below 36 g/L was associated with a 2.4-fold higher mortality rate. CONCLUSION: Despite the apparent well-being of the patients, a substantial proportion are malnourished, with reduced body fat in females and reduced muscle mass in males. Those patients who receive shorter treatment times are at the greatest risk of malnutrition and of having a low serum albumin level, which is related to a higher mortality rate.     

Plasma carotenoid profiles in normals and patients with cancer

Most human cancers arise in epithelial tissues, which are critically dependent on vitamin A for normal differentiation and proliferation. Dietary carotenoids consist of individual retinoids--pro-vitamin A precursors and non-pro-vitamin A precursors-displaying different biological activity. Although epidemiological data suggest that low serum vitamin A levels were associated with an increased risk of cancer, it is not known whether one specific or all vitamin A carotenoids are involved. To assess whether the plasma carotenoids are related to the nutritional or cancer-bearing state, a study was conducted to measure total and individual carotenoids in four groups: cancer-bearing, malnourished; cancer-bearing, well-nourished; non-cancer, malnourished; and well-nourished volunteers of comparable age and sex. There was no difference in total carotenoids and pro-vitamin A precursors between the well-nourished--both normal volunteers and cancer patients. Malnourished cancer and non-cancer patients had significantly (p less than 0.05) lower value of both. Most of the circulating carotenoids in all groups were the non-pro-vitamin A precursors. Both malnourished cancer and non-cancer patients had lower values than well-nourished (p less than 0.05). Differences were related to nutritional state, rather than presence of cancer.     

老年病人长期应用成品匀浆膳的营养评价

目的：观察长期管喂成品匀浆膳对高龄病人营养支持的效果。方法：应用自制的成品匀浆膳行营养，观察营养支持前及支持后4，8和12个月病人营养指标的变化。结果：营养支持12个月后血清白蛋白（Ab)，磷（P）和外周血淋巴细胞计数等有显著增高。血糖自4个月起减低，与支持前比较差异显著。结论：成品匀浆膳长期应用有助于维持老年病人自身的营养状态。     

The effect of nutritional status on morbidity after elective surgery for benign gastrointestinal disease

The effect of nutritional status on the morbidity and mortality of major gastrointestinal surgery for benign disease was studied in 32 patients. Malnutrition was defined as a serum albumin less than 3.5 g/dl and a recent weight loss greater than 10%, in addition to any two of the following: weight for height, midarm circumference or triceps skin-fold thickness less than 10th percentile. The morbidity and mortality in the 17 malnourished patients was 59% and 29%, respectively, compared with 20% and 7% in 15 well-nourished patients matched for age and operative procedure (p less than 0.05). After operation, the mean duration of inadequate oral nutritional intake period (IONIP, defined as a caloric intake greater than 60% requirement) was 11.9 days +/- 2.9 (SEM) in well-nourished patients compared with 30.5 days +/- 3.7 in the malnourished group. The longer IONIP in malnourished patients was a consequence of the higher morbidity in this group, thus warranting the consideration of supportive (postoperative) parenteral nutrition in malnourished patients who undergo major gastrointestinal surgery for benign disease.     

重组人生长激素对肠外瘘病人小肠黏膜增殖及营养状况的影响

目的:研究重组人生长激素(rhGH)对非肿瘤肠外瘘病人营养状况及小肠黏膜上皮细胞增生的影响.方法:选择8例唇状小肠外瘘病人,人院次日以1.5 REE热量行肠内营养,待7天氮平衡稳定后,每天皮下注射GH 10U,连用7天.分别于GH使用前1天、给予GH后第4、7天经瘘口活检肠黏膜,行常规病理及增殖细胞核抗原(PC-NA)检测,同时行机体组成分析、检测病人血清蛋白质等营养指标和氮平衡测定.结果:肠外瘘病人给予GH后第4、7天黏膜的绒毛高度与使用GH前1天相比有明显增加(P＜0.01).小肠黏膜细胞中PCNA表达第4、7天与使用GH前1天相比均有非常显著增加(P＜0.01).第7天与使用GH第4天相比明显增加(P＜0.05).使用GH后可使病人体重增加.病人血清清蛋白、前清蛋白、转铁蛋白、纤维连接蛋白均较使用前有明显增加.同时还能维持机体的正氮平衡.结论:应用GH能明显促进肠外瘘病人小肠黏膜增生,促进蛋白质合成,维持机体正氮平衡.     

Nutrition and cellular immunity in hospital patients

1. The interrelations between nutritional and cellular immune function measurements were studied in seventy patients suffering from various degrees of malnutrition. They included patients with liver disease, inflammatory bowel disease, neoplastic disease, neurological patients, post-operative surgical patients and patients with respiratory problems. 2. Nutritional measurements included: anthropometry, serum proteins, various vitamins and trace elements, and a prognostic nutritional index (PNI) was calculated. 3. Immunological measurements included: (1) natural killer (NK) cell activity, (2) antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), (3) lymphocyte proliferation in response to the mitogens concanavalin A (Con A), phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) and pokeweed mitogen (PWM) in both AB and autologous serum. 4. There was no association between anthropometric measurements and tests of immune function. 5. The lymphocyte proliferation in response to mitogenic stimulation in the malnourished patients was depressed in autologous serum compared with the response of the same lymphocytes in pooled AB serum. The lymphocyte proliferation in response to Con A correlated with transferrin in autologous serum (r 0.46, n 49, P less than 0.01) and to a lesser extent in AB serum (r 0.33, n 51, P less than 0.05). There was a difference in the Con A-stimulated tritiated-thymidine uptake between patients with low and normal serum zinc levels (P less than 0.05) for cultures performed in autologous serum, but not AB serum. 6. There was a significant correlation between NK cell activity and vitamin C (r 0.43, n 60, P less than 0.01). There was no relation between nutritional measurements and ADCC or the lymphocyte response to stimulation with PHA or PWM. 7. The results suggest that the severity of overall malnutrition does not influence several different aspects of the cellular immune response. However, the results do suggest that certain individual nutrients, particularly vitamin C and Zn, do influence the immunoreactivity of different lymphocyte subpopulations.     

结直肠癌围手术期肠内营养支持的临床研究

目的:探讨结、直肠癌病人围手术期使用肠内营养(EN)制剂进行术前肠道准备及术后早期EN支持的可行性和效果.方法:结、直肠癌择期手术病人42例,随机分为两组.试验组(EN组)21例,术前3 d口服能全力作术前肠道准备,术后12～24 h开始以能全力进行早期EN支持;对照组(传统方法组)21例,术前采用传统的半流食-流食-禁食补液方法进行肠道准备,术后给予禁食、输液-流食-半流食过渡.比较两组手术前日晚清洁洗肠的次数、肠道的清洁程度、术后肛门或造口排气的时间以及手术前后出现腹胀、腹痛、恶心、呕吐、腹泻、乏力等不良反应和术后并发症的发生情况;分别记录并比较肠道准备前(术前3 d)、手术当天清晨(手术前)、营养支持结束时(术后第8 d)的体重、血总淋巴细胞计数(LY)、血红蛋白(Hb)、总蛋白(TP)、清蛋白(ALB) 及前清蛋白(PA)等.结果:两组肠道清洁度无显著差异(P＞0.05);试验组手术前日晚清洁洗肠的次数明显少于对照组(P＜0.01);术后肛门或造口排气的时间明显较对照组提前(P＜0.05);不良反应及并发症的发生率低于对照组(P＜0.05);手术当天LY、PA均高于对照组(P＜0.05),并且较术前3 d时明显升高(P＜0.05);营养支持结束时的LY、Hb、TP、ALB及PA均高于对照组(P＜0.05),并且较术前及术前3 d均无明显差异(P＞0.05),而对照组下降明显(P＜0.05).结论:结、直肠癌病人术前用EN制剂行肠道准备效果好.术后早期EN,能促进胃肠道功能恢复,改善营养状况和细胞免疫功能,减少不良反应及术后并发症的发生.     

Subjective Global Nutritional Assessment for children

BACKGROUND: Subjective Global Assessment (SGA), a method of nutritional assessment based on clinical judgment, has been widely used to assess the nutritional status of adults for both clinical and research purposes. OBJECTIVE: Foreseeing benefits of its use in children, we chose to adapt SGA and test its validity and reproducibility in the pediatric population. DESIGN: We prospectively evaluated the preoperative nutritional status of 175 children (aged 31 d to 17.9 y) having major thoracic or abdominal surgery with the use of Subjective Global Nutritional Assessment (SGNA) and commonly used objective measurements. Each child underwent nutritional assessment by 2 independent assessors, one performing measurements of anthropometrics and handgrip strength and one performing SGNA. To test interrater reproducibility, 78 children had SGNA performed by a third assessor. Occurrence of nutrition-associated complications was documented for 30 d postoperatively. RESULTS: SGNA successfully divided children into 3 groups (well nourished, moderately malnourished, severely malnourished) with different mean values for various anthropometric and biochemical measures (P < 0.05). Malnourished children had higher rates of infectious complications than did well-nourished children (P = 0.042). Postoperative length of stay was longer for malnourished children (8.2 +/- 10 d) than for well-nourished children (5.3 +/- 5.4 d) (P = 0.002). No objective nutritional measures showed association with outcomes, with the exception of serum albumin, which was not clinically predictive because mean concentrations were in the normal range irrespective of the presence or absence of complications. CONCLUSION: SGNA is a valid tool for assessing nutritional status in children and identifying those at higher risk of nutrition-associated complications and prolonged hospitalizations.